Auxiliary hand grip for shovels



NOV. 11, 1947. J, H- CAQ-LIN AUXILIARY HAND GRIP FOR SHOVELS Filed Aug. e, 1945v INVENTOR JAMES /l-CAZ'LM/ wwf, W'

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to shovels, and more particularly to an auxiliary hand grip which may be adjustably clamped at any desired height along the handle shank. Y

One object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary hand grip of the above nature which may be twisted to any angle around a horizontal axis, and also swung around the vertical axis of the handle shank.

A further object is to provide an auxiliary hand grip of the above nature which may be held in any desired angular position by means of a universal ball and socket connection to the handle shank clamp.

A further object is to provide a device of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very eiiicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there have been illustrated on the accompanying drawing two forms in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1`represents a front View in elevation of a shovel showing the auxiliary hand grip as it appears when attached to an intermediate point of the shovel shank.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of the auxiliary hand grip and a portion of the shovel handle shank, shown on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2, looking at the front of the shovel hand grip.

Fig. 4 is a side longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the same, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a similar cross-sectional view of a modied form of the invention, in which the auxiliary hand grip is connected by a universal ball and socket joint to the handle shank clamp.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral I indicates the shovel scoop which is secured to the lower end of an elongated handle shank Il having on its upper end the usual D-shaped hand grip I2.

Provision is also made of an auxiliary intermediate shiftable hand grip I3 which is adjustably connected to the shank II by means of a two-part clamp generally indicated by the numeral I4, which consists of a rear semi-cylindrical clamp member I having a flat outer end 2 I6, and a iront semi-cylindrical clamp member I1 having a flat outer end I8. rIhe fiat ends I6 and IB are adapted to be connected together by a bolt I9 having a thumb nut 20 screwed thereon. The rear of the clamp members I5 and I1 are pivotally secured together by means of a vertical hinge generally indicated by the numeral 22, and comprising an elongated pin 22a passing through a pair of loops 22b, 22C on the clamping member Il, and a single central loop 22d on the clamping member I5.

The rear clamping member I'I is provided with a at inner section 2| which is adapted to be soldered or otherwise secured to a semi-circular vertical base plate 23.

In order to permit the auxiliary hand grip I3 to be shifted about a horizontal axis, provision is made of a U-shaped bracket 24 which is pivotally secured to the base plate 23 by means of a horizontal pivot pin 25. The hand grip I3 is secured in place between a pair of side arms 26, 21 by a part of attaching nails 26, 29, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In order to provide for the adjustment of the U-shaped bracket 24 around the axis of the pivot pin 25, provision is made of an arcuate slot 30 concentric with said pivot pin 25, and through which passes a horizontal headed bolt 3| upon the outer end of which is secured a thumb nut 32.

` Operation In operation, the two-part clamp I4 will first 'be attached tothe elongated shank Il and clamped at any desired height and angle around the axis thereof by means of the bolt I9 and thumb nut 20. The handle grip I3 may then be adjusted around the horizontal axis of the pivot pin 25 by swinging the U-shaped bracket 24 about said pivot pin to the desired angular position, and then clamping it by means of the bolt 3| and thumb nut 32.

M odied form In the modified form of the invention, provision is made of a base plate 33 of rectangular shape, and having secured theretoy as by soldering, a spherical socket 34 which is adapted to have a universal angular connection with a ball 35 secured as by welding to the adjustable bracket 24.

While there have been disclosed in this specication two forms in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that these forms are shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specic disclosures, but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In an auxiliary hand grip to be attached at an intermediate point in the length of an elongated shovel handle shank, a two-part clamp for embracing said shank, a base plate secured to one of the parts of said two-part clamp, a U- shaped bracket pivotally connected to said base plate and having a hand grip supported thereby, said bracket having an arcuate slot concentric with the pivotal connection thereof with said base plate, and means extending through said slot for clamping said shiftable bracket to said base plate.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which said clamping means comprises a cooperating bolt and a nut.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, in which bolt and nut means are provided for rigidly holding the parts of said clamp upon said shank.

0 Number 4. In an auxiliary hand grip to be attached at an intermediate point in the length of an elongated shovel handle shank, a two-part clamp for embracing said shank, a base plate secured to one of the parts of said two-part clamp, a U- shaped bracket pivotally connected to said base plate on a horizontal axis and having a hand grip supported thereby, said bracket having an arcuate slot concentric with the pivotal connection thereof with said base plate, and means extending through said slot for clamping said shiftable bracket t0 said base plate.

JAMES H. CATLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rundell Feb. 5, 1907 Brown Dec. 30, 1913 Parrish Apr. 21, 1925 Walsh May 25, 1926 

